Enticing the Earl (3 page)

M
ia groaned as she tried to sit up the next morning. The pain in her ribs was far worse than yesterday. She lay back against the pillows and blew out an agonizing breath.

“You should know better than to attempt to get up already.” Selina was instantly at her side with the bottle of laudanum. “Here, take more of this to deaden the pain.”

Mia pushed the bottle away. “No. I will not take any more of that god-awful stuff. I would rather be in pain.”

Selina nodded. “As you wish. Unfortunately, I must leave. I just received word that one of the tenants needs me. I will try to come back tomorrow if I can get away.” She leaned over and kissed Mia’s cheek. “Take care of yourself. Your mother will be by later today.”

“Thank you for everything, Selina.”

“Of course. You took care of me when I needed tending. It’s what we wise women do. Now,” she placed the bottle of laudanum on the table. “I will leave this with you in case you change your mind.”

Mia gave her friend a small smile but it hurt too much to maintain for long. Once Selina left, Mia attempted to move to a sitting position but once again the pain was more than she could bear. “Dammit.”

“Tsk, tsk.”

Mia gasped as she stared at Hart’s smiling face peering around the corner of the door. She pulled the coverlet up over her chest. “What are you doing here?”

“The duchess informed me that she was needed at home, so I came to see how you are faring this morning. May I come in?”

She couldn’t deny him entrance to a bedchamber in his own house. Besides, she would go insane without someone to talk with all day. “Yes.”

He entered the room, which seemed to shrink as he walked near the bed. He pulled the chair closer and then dropped casually into the seat. “How are you this morning?”

“A little better,” she lied. He didn’t need to know that she felt ten times worse than yesterday.

“Indeed. That is odd, though.”

“How so?”

He shrugged. “Every time I have taken a beating like you did, I felt much worse the next day. By the second day, your muscles have tightened and your cracked ribs feel like someone is stabbing you in the side.” He lifted a brown brow. “Is that
really
how you feel today?”

She nodded slowly. “Yes. That is exactly how I feel. Just how many times have you been beaten like this?”

A long moment passed before he answered, “Twice.”

“You must tell me. I have nothing else to do today so please entertain me with how you ended up in this position.”

He smiled deeply. “Very well, but first, do you need some more breakfast or maybe more tea?”

“Tea would be lovely, thank you.”

He walked out of the room and quickly reentered. “The tea will be here soon.” He returned to his seat and smiled over at her. “Now, where was I?”

“Hmm, something about a beating.”

“Ahh, yes. I was in my third year at Eton and my younger brother, Charlie, was a first year. My brother can be a bit hardheaded and didn’t know enough to give the elder boys a little leave. Instead of taking their teasing, he decided to fight back. He was ten at the time and the three other boys were fifteen. When I came upon the scene, I had to help my younger brother. We both ended up in the infirmary for a week.”

Mia smiled slightly. “It’s very nice that you helped your brother.”

“That week in the infirmary did make us closer.”

“Where is he now? I haven’t seen him in close to a year.”

Hart looked away wistfully. “London.”

“And James? I can’t remember the last time I saw him.”

“He has a parish in Dover he tends.”

“You must miss him,” she said softly. The three boys had been close growing up. She used to watch with envy as they rode across the fields on their horses.

“I usually see him once a year. But this year, he hasn’t been able to get away. Hopefully, he will visit soon.”

A knock on the door interrupted their interlude. Hart walked to the door and allowed the footman access to the room.

“Thomas, how is that cut on your shin?” Mia asked him as he placed the silver tray on the table in the corner.

“Much better, miss. Thank you. The salve you gave me helped it heal swiftly.”

“Good. I can look at it, if you like,” she offered, attempting to raise her head until the pain heeded her progress.

“No, miss. You must heal yourself. One of the maids saw your mother this morning and she said to tell you it would be near noon before she could arrive.”

“Thank you, Thomas.”

The young man gave a quick nod to them both and then closed the door behind him. Mia wondered if he thought it odd that the earl was in her bedchamber alone. After what she’d been through, they most likely thought he was protecting her.

Hart brought her a cup of tea and placed it on the nightstand. “Would you like me to help you into a sitting position?”

She knew she shouldn’t allow him such liberties but there was no one else to help her, and she really wanted that tea. “Yes, please.”

He placed his hands under her arms and gently eased her up. Before she could sit back, he plumped the pillows behind her. She sat back embarrassed that she noticed the spicy hint of soap that clung to his strong body.

“Here you go,” he said, handing her the cup of tea.

“Thank you.”

Hart grabbed his own tea and sat back down in his chair. “Now, where were we?”

Mia sipped her tea and then smiled. “Well, you told me the sweet story about how you defended your brother. Something tells me your next story isn’t as charming.”

His cheeks reddened slightly and his normal rakish grin slipped away. “You would be correct on that. My next beating was far worse than being trounced by a couple of fifteen-year-olds. I was twenty-two and in London. I was in an area of town that I shouldn’t have been in without more people. It was just Middleton and me.”

“What were you doing in such a rough part of town?”

He looked away. “It’s not an appropriate topic of conversation.”

“Ah, so you were looking for a bit ’o muslin for the evening.”

“You shouldn’t know of such things,” he scolded with a muffled laugh.

“I’m not one of your fancy ladies of quality, my lord.”

“Hart,” he reminded her.

“Yes, and Hart, you are procrastinating. Tell me the rest of the story.”

“Middleton and I were robbed by six men. We gave it a valiant fight but we were outnumbered. We both took a terrible beating and we’re lucky to be alive today.”

“Did you learn anything from that beating?”

“Yes, never go into Whitechapel after dark with Middleton.” He laughed before taking a sip of tea. “Now that we have learned of my lesson, I believe it is time to hear yours.”

“My lesson?” she squeaked. What was her lesson?
Never believe a man who tells you that you are the most beautiful woman he has ever met when you know the truth of how you look? Never believe a man who hits you once and says he will never do it again? Always have a Bow Street runner investigate a man before becoming his mistress?
There were far too many lessons to be had from this beating.

“Surely, you learned something?”

She nodded slowly. “I did. Never trust a man.”

He grimaced at her. “All men?”

“Perhaps not all, but most.”

“We’re not all horrible monsters who like to beat women.”

“I suppose not,” she conceded. “But how do you know who is a good man and who isn’t? I don’t have the resources to hire a Bow Street runner to investigate him before becoming involved.”

Hart’s brow furrowed. “Then you need to introduce the man to others so they can help you judge his character. From what I’ve discovered, no one knows a thing about this Allan Davies.”

“I suppose you are right.”

“Or next time choose a man that your friends and family already know.”

Except Mia had already decided there wouldn’t be a next time. She was done with men for good. All they ever did was cause her pain and heartache.

He quietly stared at her for a long moment as if contemplating something. Finally, he asked in a gentle tone, “Why did he beat you, Mia?”

Mia’s gaze moved away from his prying stare. She focused on the amber color of the tea in her cup. She couldn’t tell him about the gold so what could she say as an excuse for a man beating a woman? “I told him I wanted to end the relationship.”

Hart blew out a long breath. “Was there another man?”

“No.”

“He didn’t want to end the relationship? So beating you into submission was the answer?”

His questions only made her feel more guilt for the lies she continued to tell him. “I think he was just so angry that I would end the relationship before he was ready for it to be over.”

Hart nodded. “I suppose so. Did you not see other signs of violence?”

Mia shook her head. “Not really. He had a temper but seemed to control it most of the time.”

He looked away and nodded.

She noticed the way he held his jaw so tight and wondered why he appeared upset. Was it just her beating?

 

That afternoon Simon spent in Cheadle again speaking with the villagers he had missed his first trip. With only the vague description Mia had given him, no one seemed to recognize Allan Davies. His only identifying mark was a small scar on his chin. None of the townspeople knew his name and didn’t think he sounded familiar. So again, he was left wondering how a man could get close to Mia without anyone else knowing him.

It was as if the man had deliberately courted her for some odd reason.

But why?

She really was no one. She had no connections. Her father had been a blacksmith on Simon’s estate before his death two years ago. Her mother was the wise woman and healer on the estate. There was no money to speak of between them.

Unless someone had learned how he felt about her and thought to coerce him into something or maybe asking Simon for money to keep the affair quiet. That made no sense either. Even if someone had discovered Simon had feelings for her, most people would realize he shouldn’t act upon those feelings.

“There you are.”

Simon looked over to see North walking out of a jeweler’s store. “Spoiling your bride again?”

North smiled fully. “Absolutely. She doesn’t feel the need to spend my money on clothing or shoes, but I have discovered she has an obsession with earbobs.”

Simon laughed, glad his friend had finally found the happiness he deserved. “And I would bet she loves to thank you properly after receiving a gift from you.”

“Of course.” North tucked the small box into his jacket pocket. “Have you had any luck finding this Allan Davies?”

“None at all. It’s as if the man never existed. If I hadn’t seen him from a distance, I might wonder if he wasn’t a figment of her imagination.”

“Yes, but figments don’t give bruises and crack ribs.”

“I know that. But who the bloody hell is he?”

North shrugged. “Perhaps the runner will be able to help. You did send for one, didn’t you?”

“Of course. He should be here by tomorrow.”

“Good. Anything else I can do to help?”

Simon nodded. “Would you care to join me in a ride to the cottage where they met? I’m not sure I want to do this alone.” Not that he feared finding the man there. Simon assumed the man had left the area. It was the idea of visiting the house where they had made love. It seemed like a violation. Not to mention how much it pained him personally.

“I would be happy to join you.”

They rode off in the direction that Mia had given him. Simon turned off the main road down a small trail until he found the dilapidated house where they’d had their liaison. Simon forced his horse forward when all he wanted to do was run from the place. As he climbed down from his horse, his hands fisted and a bead of sweat rolled down his back.

“Come on,” North said as he trudged into the house.

Simon entered the small cottage and looked around. There was a small table with a few dishes on it. Next to the fireplace were two worn chairs that looked as if they had been in that spot for a hundred years. A layer of dust covered the chairs like a blanket.

“I don’t see anything personal here,” North commented as he rummaged through a drawer.

Simon walked into the bedroom and stared at the bed. He closed his eyes and images of her making love with that monster flooded his mind. Waves of jealousy overcame him until he had to turn away from the room.

“Did you find anything in the bedroom?” North asked.

“No.”

North nodded. “I will investigate the bedroom. Why don’t you wait outside?”

“Very well.”

Simon strode out of the house and then inhaled deeply. This shouldn’t distress him as it did. Mia obviously did not know how he felt about her. He walked around the structure and found nothing that indicated anyone lived here. Hearing footsteps, he turned around and headed toward the front of the house. “Did you find anything?”

North shook his head. “Honestly, I don’t believe Davies lived here.”

“I don’t either. Miss Featherstone must have believed he did but the obvious answer is Davies used this place strictly for their liaisons.”

“Do you think he’s married?”

“It’s possible. That would explain why he met her here and why no one in town knows of him.” They walked back to their horses. Simon untied the reins from the tree. “But he couldn’t be from too far or they wouldn’t be able to meet often.”

“How often did they meet?”

“I don’t know.” Nor did he want to know. But he would ask her later. It pained him enough to think of her with another man. But he could understand it if they loved each other. He assumed she must have thought herself infatuated with him. If she discovered Davies was married, she might be devastated.